Apparatus for applying liquid adhesive to an inner sole

ABSTRACT

A device in a cement-lasting machine, for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, having an applicator member for laying-on cement or adhesive. The applicator member is movable towards the last body and includes an applicator pad corresponding to the outline of the inner sole. The applicator pad is provided with a resilient band capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the inner sole for depositing the adhesive thereto.

United States Patent Schindler et al.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUID ADHESIVE TO AN INNER SOLE Inventors: Herbert Schindler, Pirmasens; Tilo Liiffler, Winzeln, both of Germany Firma Schoen & Cie Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Pirmasens, Germany Filed: June 13, 1972 Appl. No.: 262,393

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data June 15, 1971 Germany 2129598 U.S. Cl 118/3, 118/241, 118/411 Int. Cl. B05c l/02, B05c 5/02 Field of Search 118/3, 411, 412, 206, 241

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1966 Allard 118/3 X [451 Apr. 30, 1974 3,503,367 3/1970 Schindler 118/3 3,570,454 3/1971 Barton 118/411 3,575,137 4/1971 Marquis 118/411 Primary ExaminerJohn P. McIntosh Attorney, Agent, or FirmFriedman & Goodman ABSIRACT A device in a cement-lasting machine, for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, having an applicator member for laying-0n cement or adhesive. The applicator member is movable towards the last body and includes an applicator pad corresponding to the outline of the inner sole. The applicator pad is provided with a resilient band capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the inner sole for depositing the adhesive thereto.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures III APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUID ADH-ESIVE TO AN INNER SOLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for applying liquid adhesive to a sole, specifically to an inner sole which is mounted on last body, particularly in a cement-lasting machine. The device is provided with an applicator member for laying-on the cement or adhesive, the applicator member being movable towards the last body. The applicator member faces the sole and has an applicator pad or plunger whose outline approximately corresponds to that of the sole or part thereof. The applicator pad deposits the adhesive on the related part of the sole, particularly that part thereof which is forward of the joint area of the sole.

In conjunction with cement-lasting machines, it is known to lay-on cement or adhesive by means of a horseshoe-shaped member arranged below the last. Horseshoe-shaped application members of this kind are sometimes provided with built-in valves whose movable valve stems extend with their upper ends over the surface of the applicator body facing the inner sole. These valve stems can be resiliently urged back into the applicator body against a bias of a spring and, when urged back, adapt to the shape of the inner sole.

The curvature of the last bottom, the so-called camber, can become so pronounced in the case of ladies shoes that compensation by means of the abovementioned valve stem movement becomes inadequate. The application of the adhesive Within the joint area thus cannot be satisfactorily carried out with such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the objective of this invention to provide an apparatus for the satisfactory application of adhesive or cement within the cambered or joint area of an inner sole mounted on a last, and thus as a rule, the inner sole of a lasted shoe.

Another object of his invention is to provide and make available a device of simple structure which would operate dependably and, if possible, automatically.

The device of the aforementioned type based on his invention is characterized in that in the joint area of the sole, there is provided at least one flexible adhesive applicator band movable against the joint area of the sole. This movement is coupled with the relative movement of the pad towards the sole. This device is also characterized in that means are provided which, coupled with the relative movement between the pad and the sole, transfer and adhesive which is to be applied to the joint area, to that surface of the band which faces the sole.

Such a structure as mentioned above ensures that although the means for compensating the sole curvature may vary greatly, the cement application procedure is accomplished in one single movement of the applicator. Thus the inner soles of shoes having a greatly differing camber can be provided with adhesive and then lasted without need for adjusting the setting of the machine. The applicator band or bands readily adapt to the shape of the inner sole surface within the joint area similarly to the aforementioned valves, nothwithstand ing the fact that the soles are invariably deeply contoured.

The applicator band is preferably a resilient sheetmetal member. The band is advantageously connected to the applicator pad body adjacent to the point where the flat application surface of the pad joins the strongly cambered area. The band is so arranged, mounted and supported that when executing the movement which involves the application of adhesive, the band comes into gradual abutment against that portion of the inner sole surface which lies within the joint area of the last, stating from the area wherein the pad applies the adheslve.

One end of the band is preferably rigidly attached to the applicator part of the pad, while its opposite end is freely movable towards the sole with respect to the applicator pad. That surface of the band which faces the sole is preferably equipped with means for receiving and transferring the adhesive to a degree, exceeding that of a smooth surface. The invention suggests the use of a nubbly application surface to this effect.

The device can be so arranged that, in its rest or initial position, the band adopts a position inclined from the horizontal, i.e., forms a sufficiently large angle therewith. With means being provided for depositing adhesive at the upper end of the application surface of the band or adjacent thereto prior to or at the beginning of the working stroke, the adhesive will then flow along the band, thus distributing itself thereover before being transferred to the sole. The adhesive will then be evenly transferred to the sole when the band comes into abutment therewith.

The arrangement described hereinbefore can be combined with a piston arrangement for laying-on cement whose adhesive laying-on body member is shaped like a horse-shoe to conform to the outline of an inner sole. The aforementioned valve array known per se can than be provided in the horse-shoe-shaped portion. The application band can then be attached to overlap the area within which the vavle array is distributed.

The band, which is provided in the form of a resilient sheet-metal member, should then be advantageously provided with apertures through which the valve stems or resiliently mounted pins can extend. Adhesive feed elements which supply the band with adhesive can have a structure similar to that of the resilient valves and be similarly distributed. However, since they must open prior to the resilient valves, the latter valves being pushed open by the sole itselt, the cement feed elements are provided with the adhesive by a separate valve controlled in synchronism with the work stroke and tripped prior to the sole coming into abutment with the resilient valve array.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a slightly simplified longitudinal section through a cement application device provided on a cement-lasting machine, pursuant to the present 3 invention, taken along a section plane A B C D E -F of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the application device of the present invention, without the shoe, taken in the direction indicated by arrow II in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Underneath a last 1 and an inner sole 2 mounted thereon, as shown in FIG. 1, there is arranged a cement applicator plunger 3 which, together with the other elements of the lasting device, is inclined at an angle from the horizontal and mounted in the frame of the machine, such as in the instant case a cement-lasting machine. Plunger 3 is mounted on a connecting rod 4 capable of a reciprocal up-and-down movement in which the plunger 3 participates. Plunger 3 is provided with system of channels and bores 3' which direct the adhesive to the feed points.

As shown in FIG. 2, the applicator member or pad of plunger 3 is horse-shoe-shaped so as to conform to the outline of both the sole and the last. The edge of the applicator member, following the outline of a horse-shoe, is provided with cement-feed channels or bores 17 which communicate with cement-distribution channels 3A pin-shaped cement-feed member 5 is seated in each one of these cement-feed channels or bores 17.

In the embodiment shown, member 5 is of tubular configuration along part of its length. The section of FIG. 1 shows the way the hollow-stemmed portions of the feed members 5 extend from an inward-sloping plunger surface facing the sole. Being biased by a spring 7, the members 5 come into aubtment against the sole 2 with their orifices. As may be seen from the drawing, the hollow-stemmed portions of the feed members 5 are seated in their bores with a tight fit.

The other extremities of the member 5 extend into a massive body surrounded by a spring 7 and provided with a flange 18. One end-face of the flange 18 serves as support for the spring 7 and the opposite end-face as an abutment and stop-face. The lower portion 18 of the adhesive feed element 5 has a larger diameter and is seated in a segment of the cement-feed channel 17 which is likewise enlarged compared with that segment which accommodates the tubular portion of the -cement-feed member 5. The stop-face of the flange 18 comes into abutment against the transition point between the wider and narrower channel segements of the cement-feed channel 17.

A transverse bore 19 is provided closely adjacent to an above the stop-face of the flange 18 in rest position, i.e., within the narrow segment of the channel 17. When hollow pin 5 is forced back into the plunger 3 against the bias of spring 7, the orifices of the transverse bore 19 extending into the hollow stem of the pin 5 move out of the narrower into the widened segment of the channel 17 and are thus uncovered so as to be in communication with the distribution channels 3. The liquid adhesive can thus flow from the distribution channels 3 into the feed channels 17 and through the transverse bore 19 of each feed element 5 into its channel to its orifice from where the liquid adhesive reaches the inner sole.

The embodiment shown is further provided with two additional feed elements in the form of nozzles 6 arranged in the rear part of the cement laying-on plunger 3, i.e., behind the main applicator part thereof which is horseshoe-shaped and provided with cement feed elements 5. Nozzles 6 differ from the feed elements 5 described hereinbefore above in that they possess a through axial bore 20, and thus dispense with the transverse bore 19 of the former elements 5.

The adhesive feeds into nozzles 6 and the outflow therefrom doe not depend on their position; it is controlled in a different way as set forth below. All feed elements 5 and nozzles 6, when in their rest positions, are urged upward by bias springs 7 acting upon their flanges.

The adhesive is fed into the cement-distribution channels 3 via a bore 8, as shown in FIG. 1. A ball check-valve with a ball 9 prevents a reverse flow of adhesive back into feed bore 8.

Adjacent the joint area of the last, there is arranged two members 10, each preferably of spring steel. The upper face of each member 10 is provided with nubs or small protrusions 10 to enlarge the active surface thereof and thus retain a certain quantity of adhesive, larger than possible with a smooth surface. The leading end 10 of each member 10 is angled or bent and inserted into a respective bore 11 and slot 11 of plunger 3, as shown in FIG. 1. Each member 10 is also provided with apertures in the area coinciding with the location of feed elements 5 and nozzles 6 so that the feed elements 5 and nozzles 6 can pass through.

A piston rod 12, which is activated by conventional means (not shown) for reciprocal up-and-down movement, carries a journal 13 at its upper end, with a bridge member' 14 being movably supported therein. The upper end of bridge member 14 abuts a rear portion of each band-like member 10. A collecting pan 15, which communicates with a channel or conduit 16, provides a return feed for excess adhesive overflowing the lower edge of the sheet metal member or members 10.

The device described hereinbefore is operated as follows: When in its rest position, plunger 3 is spaced by a certain distance from inner sole 2. A the begin of the edging operation, a certain quantity of adhesive is fed into channels 3' via bore 8 from an adhesive feed-line (not shown) by means of an adhesive pump (not shown). The quantity of adhesive is so dimensioned that part thereof flows through the bores 20 of nozzles 6 and can issue from their orifices into the members 10.

As a result of the inclined position of plunger 3, the adhesive flows by force of gravity over each member 10 downwards towards the rear which is adjacent to the collecting pan 15. A large part of the adhesive is retained due to the nubs 10' on the surface of each member 10.

During the next following working step, the plunger 3 under actuation by piston rod 4 moves upwards so that adhesive feed elements 5 and nozzles 6 come into abutment against the inner sole. As a result, the inner soles 2 urges elements 5 and 6 back into their bores or channels 17 which accommodate the same. This movement displaces a certain quantity of the adhesive out of the channels 17 and forces it upwards through the open or opening paths, i.e., central bores in elements 5 and 6. The forward part of the inner sole is thus wetted with the adhesive along its periphery, as known per se.

Concurrently therewith, however, members 10 are lifted by means of bridge member 14, journal 13 and piston rod 12, as set forth above, and urged against the curvature of the joint area of the inner sole 2. As a result, the adhesive is transferred to the inner sole. The adhesive-application plunger 3 now returns downwards and the edging procedure takes place in a conventional way. Any excess adhesive issuing out of elements 5 and 6 is caught in collecting pan and returned into its container via conduit 16.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only, and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, first means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for apply adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole,

characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, securing means fixedly attach one end of said applicator element to said applicator plunger so that an opposite end portion of said applicator element is freely movable with respect to said applicator plunger, said applicator plunger being provided with second means in contact with said opposite end portion of said applicator element for moving said applicator element away from said applicator plunger in a direction toward the joint area of the sole, said second means for moving said applicator element being associated with said first means for moving said applicator plunger so that movement of said applicator element is coupled with relative movement of said applicator plunger, and means for depositing the adhesive on a surface of said applicator element facing the joint area of the inner sole prior to said applicator plunger contacting the inner sole.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applicator element is a resilient sheet-metal member.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein support means journal said applicator element to said applicator plunger for gradual abutment with the joint area of the inner sole starting with a forward portion of said applicator element within which said depositing means deposits the adhesive.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applicator element in an initial position is horizontally inclined to define a forward portion higher than a rear portion, said depositing means deposits the adhesive on said forward portion of said applicator element to allow the adhesive to flow over said surface of said applicator element toward said rear portion of said applicator element for distributing the adhesive thereover prior to transferring the adhesive to the joint area of the inner sole when said applicator element comes into abutment thereagainst.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said depositing means includes spring biased adhesive-feed nozzle members, said nozzle members being movably seated in adhesive-feed channels provided in said applicator plunger, end portions of said nozzle members extending through apertures provided in said applicator element to positions disposed above said surface of said applicator element.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for applying adhesive further includes spring biased adhesive-feed elements, said adhesive-feed elements being movably seated in adhesive-feed channels provided in a forward portion of said applicator plunger, said adhesive-feed elements being provided with transverse bores to control feed of the adhesive, said bores being covered when said adhesive-feed elements are spaced from the inner sole, and said bores being uncovered when said adhesive-feed elements abut against the inner sole.

7. A device according to claim 1,

wherein said surface of said applicator element is provided with surface nubs defining small protrusions.

8. A device according to claim 1 including collecting pan means for excess adhesive overflowing said surface of said applicator element.

9. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for applying adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole, characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, means for moving said applicator element away from and toward said applicator plunger in a direction toward and away from the joint area of the sole respectively, said means for moving said applicator element being associated with said means for moving said applicator plunger so that movement of said applicator element is coupled with relative movement of said applicator plunger, means for depositing the adhesive on a surface of said applicator element facing the joint area of the inner sole prior to said applicator plunger contacting the inner sole, said surface of said applicator element being provided with means for receiving and transferring the adhesive, said receiving and transferring means being capable of retaining a large quantity of adhesive than would be retained by a smooth surface, said receiving and transferring means including surface nubs defining small protrusions.

10. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for applying adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole,

characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, means for moving said applicator element v away from and toward said applicator plunger in a direction toward and away from the joint area of the sole respectively, said means for moving said applicator element being associated with said ing the inner sole. 

1. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, first means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for apply adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole, characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, securing means fixedly attach one end of said applicator element to said applicator plunger so that an opposite end portion of said applIcator element is freely movable with respect to said applicator plunger, said applicator plunger being provided with second means in contact with said opposite end portion of said applicator element for moving said applicator element away from said applicator plunger in a direction toward the joint area of the sole, said second means for moving said applicator element being associated with said first means for moving said applicator plunger so that movement of said applicator element is coupled with relative movement of said applicator plunger, and means for depositing the adhesive on a surface of said applicator element facing the joint area of the inner sole prior to said applicator plunger contacting the inner sole.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applicator element is a resilient sheet-metal member.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein support means journal said applicator element to said applicator plunger for gradual abutment with the joint area of the inner sole starting with a forward portion of said applicator element within which said depositing means deposits the adhesive.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applicator element in an initial position is horizontally inclined to define a forward portion higher than a rear portion, said depositing means deposits the adhesive on said forward portion of said applicator element to allow the adhesive to flow over said surface of said applicator element toward said rear portion of said applicator element for distributing the adhesive thereover prior to transferring the adhesive to the joint area of the inner sole when said applicator element comes into abutment thereagainst.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said depositing means includes spring biased adhesive-feed nozzle members, said nozzle members being movably seated in adhesive-feed channels provided in said applicator plunger, end portions of said nozzle members extending through apertures provided in said applicator element to positions disposed above said surface of said applicator element.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for applying adhesive further includes spring biased adhesive-feed elements, said adhesive-feed elements being movably seated in adhesive-feed channels provided in a forward portion of said applicator plunger, said adhesive-feed elements being provided with transverse bores to control feed of the adhesive, said bores being covered when said adhesive-feed elements are spaced from the inner sole, and said bores being uncovered when said adhesive-feed elements abut against the inner sole.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said surface of said applicator element is provided with surface nubs defining small protrusions.
 8. A device according to claim 1 including collecting pan means for excess adhesive overflowing said surface of said applicator element.
 9. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for applying adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole, characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, means for moving said applicator element away from and toward said applicator plunger in a direction toward and away from the joint area of the sole respectively, said means for moving said applicator element being associated with said means for moving said applicator plunger so that movement of saiD applicator element is coupled with relative movement of said applicator plunger, means for depositing the adhesive on a surface of said applicator element facing the joint area of the inner sole prior to said applicator plunger contacting the inner sole, said surface of said applicator element being provided with means for receiving and transferring the adhesive, said receiving and transferring means being capable of retaining a large quantity of adhesive than would be retained by a smooth surface, said receiving and transferring means including surface nubs defining small protrusions.
 10. A device in a cement-lasting machine for applying a liquid adhesive to an inner sole mounted on a last body, the inner sole including a joint area provided with a curvature and a forward part adjacent to the joint area, said device comprising an applicator plunger, means for moving said applicator plunger toward and away from the inner sole and last body, said applicator plunger including an applicator member facing the inner sole and shaped approximately to conform with at least a part of the inner sole, said applicator member including means for applying adhesive to the joint area and the forward part of the inner sole, characterized in that said means for applying adhesive includes at least one resilient adhesive applicator element capable of coming into abutment against the joint area of the sole, means for moving said applicator element away from and toward said applicator plunger in a direction toward and away from the joint area of the sole respectively, said means for moving said applicator element being associated with said means for moving said applicator plunger so that movement of said applicator element is coupled with relative movement of said applicator plunger, sid means for moving said applicator element including a bridge member, said bridge member being movably seated in said applicator plunger, said bridge member being disposed below said application element in an abutting arrangement, and means for depositing the adhesive on a surface of said applicator element facing the joint area of the inner sole prior to said applicator plunger contacting the inner sole. 